METHOD FOR DETERMINING EARTHQUAKE LOCATION FROM SPACECRAFT Russian patent published in 2017 - IPC G01V1/00 G01V3/17 

FIELD: measurement equipment.

SUBSTANCE: low-frequency electromagnetic radiation is registered. The location of the earthquake epicenter is estimated by exceeding radiation intensity of the background level. At the time of the exceeding low-frequency background level radiation, the areas of the underlying Earth's surface in the X-ray spectrum, are further scanned from the spacecraft board. According to the presence and sizes of the Earth's surface area characterized by the intensity of the X-rays with the energy of 2-25 keV exceeding the background value not more than 20 standard deviations, the location of the earthquake epicenter is specified. Moreover, the low-frequency electromagnetic radiation is received on three antennas placed on the spacecraft in the form of the geometric right angle. Wherein the antenna of the first receiving channel is placed on the top of the angle, common to the antennas of the second and the third receiving channels disposed respectively in the azimuth and elevation planes. The received low-frequency radiation is converted by frequency with two oscillators, the frequencies of which are spread to the double value of the intermediate frequency and selected symmetrical against the carrier frequency of the low-frequency radiation. They are distinguished in the three receiving voltage channels of the intermediate frequency . The voltages of the oscillators, the voltages of the intermediate frequency of the first and the second, the first and the third channels are multiplied. The narrowband voltages are emitted at the frequency equal to the difference of the oscillators frequencies. The correlative voltage processing of the intermediate frequency of the first and the second, the first and the third receiving channels, is performed. The voltages, proportional to the received correlative functions with the threshold voltages, are compared, and in the case of their exceeding the threshold voltages, the phase differences are measured between the received narrowband voltages at the frequency equal to the difference of the oscillator frequencies. According to the phase difference value, the direction to the epicenter of the expected earthquake in the azimuth and elevation planes, is determined. Moreover, the frequency of the first local oscillator is used to be converted by frequency of the low-frequency radiation received on the first channel. The frequency of the second local oscillator is used to be converted by frequency of the low-frequency radiation received by the second and the third channels. Additionally, the third measuring base is used, formed by the second and the third receiving antennas and located in the hypotenuse plane. A right-angled triangle is formed with three measuring bases. The voltages of the intermediate frequency of the second and the third receiving channels are multiplied. The narrowband voltage is emitted at the frequency equal to the frequency differences between the oscillators. The correlative voltage processing of the intermediate frequency of the first and the second receiving channels, is performed. The voltages, proportional to the received correlative functions with the threshold voltages, are compared, and in the case of their exceeding the threshold voltages, the phase differences are measured between the received narrowband voltages at the frequency equal to the difference of the oscillator frequencies. The direction to the epicenter of the expected earthquake is determined in the hypotenuse plane by the value of the phase differences. According to the measured values of azimuth, elevation and orientation angles, the location of the expected earthquake epicenter is determined.

EFFECT: improved accuracy of locating the epicenter of the expected earthquake.

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